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Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

3.8K
Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...
3.8K
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

1.7K
Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...
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Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

16.2K
Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
16.2K
Structures of Solids02:22

Structures of Solids

16.8K
Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
16.8K
Metallic Solids02:37

Metallic Solids

20.0K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
20.0K
Lattice Centering and Coordination Number02:33

Lattice Centering and Coordination Number

10.8K
The structure of a crystalline solid, whether a metal or not, is best described by considering its simplest repeating unit, which is referred to as its unit cell. The unit cell consists of lattice points that represent the locations of atoms or ions. The entire structure then consists of this unit cell repeating in three dimensions. The three different types of unit cells present in the cubic lattice are illustrated in Figure 1.
Types of Unit Cells
Imagine taking a large number of identical...
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Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Liquid-cell Transmission Electron Microscopy for Tracking Self-assembly of Nanoparticles
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Liquid-cell Transmission Electron Microscopy for Tracking Self-assembly of Nanoparticles

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Self-similar mesocrystals form via interface-driven nucleation and assembly.

Guomin Zhu1,2, Maria L Sushko1, John S Loring1

  • 1Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.

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|February 18, 2021
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Summary

Particle attachment drives colloidal crystallization, forming complex nanomaterials. New research reveals interface-driven pathways in iron oxide mesocrystal formation, challenging previous models.

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Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control
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Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography
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Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography
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Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography

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Area of Science:

  • Colloidal science
  • Materials science
  • Geochemistry

Background:

  • Crystallization by particle attachment (CPA) forms hierarchical nanomaterials and complex mineral textures.
  • Oriented attachment, a form of CPA, produces mesocrystals that mimic single crystals but retain particle identity.
  • The conventional view of CPA involves Brownian motion and interparticle potentials, but mesocrystal regularity and the role of ligands remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate mesocrystal formation mechanisms in iron oxides, a common colloidal system.
  • Clarify the role of precursor phases and surface-bound ligands in CPA.
  • Elucidate the process by which random attachment events lead to ordered mesocrystal structures.

Main Methods:

  • In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at 80°C.
  • 'Freeze-and-look' TEM techniques.
  • Studied haematite (Hm) mesocrystal formation in the presence of oxalate (Ox).

Main Results:

  • Isolated haematite particles were rarely observed.
  • Interfacial gradients at oxalate-covered surfaces induced repeated nucleation of haematite particles.
  • Nucleated particles attached to surfaces, forming mesocrystals via an interface-driven pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Mesocrystal formation is driven by interfacial gradients, not solely by random Brownian motion.
  • This interface-driven pathway provides a new understanding of ordered mesocrystal formation.
  • The findings suggest widespread applicability to natural and synthetic systems involving iron oxides and similar colloidal processes.